Ditch digger



iatentcd Nov. 27, i923.

eno'rirrius NA-YLOR, or MEDFORD, OREGON.'

tratte "t'otricE.vv

BITCH BIGGER.

' Application led .Tune 12,1922. Serial No. 567,705.

To all whom t may concern;

v Be it known that I, ADoLPHUs NAYLoR, a citizen of the United States7 and a resident of Medford, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditch Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditch digging machines especially adapted for use in irrigation, though not necessarily restricted to Vsuch use. f

Briefly stated an important object of this invention is'toprovide a ditch digging machine having novel means whereby the pull thereon is transmitted p directly to the scraper or digger blade so as to relieve the other parts of the machine of the strain incident to the engagement of the blade with the ground.

Further the invention forming the sublject matter of this application is characterized by the provision of reliable means whereby the depth ofthe blade may be varied.

Also the invention aims to provide a ditch digging machine having simple means whereby the dirt which is loosened is picked up and conveyed the desired distance to either side of the ditch.

A further object is to provide a ditch digging machine of the class described which is of highly simplified construction, simple to operate and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description. l

vIn the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

y Figure 1 is a side elevation of proved ditch digging machine,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view iliustrating the means foroperating the turntable and consequently 'the discharge conveyor carried thereby, A

Figure 4 is aV detail sectional view illustrating the operating means for the turntable,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illusthe imtrating the connection between the tongue and the pick-up shovel.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiaxles Sand-9 respectively. j j

ment of the invention, the numeral 5 genen ally designates a frame which may be constructed of channel `iron or any othermaterial found suitable for the purpose. The improved frame is as `illustrated in Figure 1 provided with front and rearcross beams 6 and-'7 respectively, the said cross beams having connection with thefront and rear VVIn carrying out theinvention a tongue 10 has connection with the front of the frame through themedium ofa pairof attac-hing links'or rods 1l having their forward portions arranged on opposite sides ofthe frame and connected thereto through the medium of pins or bolts 14, the said bolts being extended through slots or transverse openings 15 in ythe tongue. It will be observed that thetransverseslots 15 i are considerably wider than the diameter of the pins so that the pins are capable of movement in the slots. Therefore, when the tongue advances the pins 14 will be engaged with the rear walls of the transverse slots 15 and the machine will then ybegin to advance. 1

lThe limited sliding connection between the tongueand the machine is provided so that the pull will be transmitted directly to 'a blade or shovel 16. The blade or shovel 16 has its 'side walls connected to a coupling member 18 havi'nga ieXible element v19 joined withthe tongue 10 through the medium of an attaching strip or bar 21;* llt-might besstated that the chain 19 and the coupling member 18 constitute a Y-shaped connecting device by ymeans of which the shovel lis-'directly connected to the tongue.: `When this construction is employed the p ull of theto-ngue istrans'mitted. directly to the shovel and consequently heavy braces or rods are lnot necessary for the shovel; However, this connection-be-` tween Ythe tongue andl the shovel doesnot in any way interfere with 'the forward movement of the machine when4 operated either by draft animals or a tractor. Figure 1 illustrates that the rear port-ion of the shovel is hinged asindicated at 24 to the forward end of a. main Vlongitudinal extending conveyor frameu25. 'The conveyorA frame 25 is arranged in an inclined vposition and Vis provided with a' conveyor or is loosened and picked up by the shovel it will :enter the conveyor frame 25 .and move upwardly on the vendless conveyorc26.

The inclination or cutting depth of theshovel may be varied by the operation of .a large hand wheel 30 keyed or otherwise secured to a reel 31 to which a chain 32 is'connected. In carrying out the invention the chain is connected at itslower end to a vertical rod or link 33 which is in turn connected t0 the-shovel. The link 33 has conlnection withV and is Vguided by aY pair of fguide rods 85 extended lupwardly from the frame. It will beseen that when the hand wheel 30 isv rotated ythe chain 32 and the `link 33 w-ill be yoperated for veither raising -or `lowering lthe shovel. This adjustment fof the 'shovel may be brought about without interfering with Ithe pull on 'the shovel -'through the mediumof the members 18 and 19.

The conveyor 26 Vis operated by an endless chain 40 trained about a sprocket wheel 41 of theconveyoranda second sprocket wheel 42on--a'counter shaft The'counter shaft 43' is connectedrwith a power unit 4124fthrough Vthe medium rof 1a chain 45 and sprocket `wheels 46 and 47. 'It will be observed that when the power unit 44 is in operation it will operate the conveyor 26 for elevating fthe ldirt `loosened by the shovel. Figure 2 illustrates that a clutch 50 is connected to ithe1counter shaft y43 and is provided with ya lever 551 by means of :which the driving connectionbetween the power unit 4l and the conveyor may be broken.

The dirt upon being'discharged from the main conveyor 25 is lreceived in a conveyor frame which discharges the dirt at the deysiredplace at one side ofthe ditch. 'lhelower portion of thedischarging conveyor frame 55 is horizontftlly pivoted as indicated at 56 to a ypair'fof brackets 57. The intermediate portion-of-the conveyor frame 55 is vsupported by'means of `rods 58 pivoted to the frame as indicated at 59. Each rod 58 consistsof a pair ofadjustably connected :overlapped sections and by-the adjustment of the sections with yrelation to each other the inclination of the conveyor frame 55 ymay.4 be varied.

liligure 1 illust-rates thatithe turntable 6() .is rotatably mounted `upon the base member Vsupported at `the rear end of the frame .by means of a plurality of bracing devices 101 secured inany suitable manner to the frame.

The brackets 57-:and consequently the conveyor55 aremounted..onithe deck of a turnta/b'le'60 and an. engine 61 is `also mounted .on the deck .and 'formsa means whereby to operate .the .endless -dirt conveyor. member 62. ...Figure 1 illustrates that the engine 61'is :connected t0.y the mem-ber 62 through the imediunr-of ,co-,acting gears 165,: ene efwhich by the engine.

`.longitudinally movable link 81.

is connected to the endless conveyor while the other one isconnected to a shaft operated i ln this. manner when the machine is in operation thel endless conveyor 62 operates for conveying the dirt to the desired point at one side of the ditch.

An important feature of this invention is the fact that the turntable 60 maybe rotated for causing the dirt to be discharged from the conveyor 55 at a point laterally of the ditch. Figure '8 illustrates that the turntable is provided with an internal gear y 'having' connection with an operating gear 161 l'e l t l t 1ti l yec or otneiwise secuiec Y o a. ver i cal shaft 162. The vertical shaft- 162 is .com

nectcd through the medium off gears 63 toV a shaft 64. The shaft 64 also has connection with a. friction wheel 65 to which power is applied for rotating internal gearsinrthe desired direction.

Attention is directed to Figure 3 which illustrates that the yfriction Awheel 65 vis arranged between driving friction rwheels 68 having connection with lthe power unit 44. With reference to Figure 1 it will be observed that the friction wheels '68 are pro.y

vided with sprocket wheels 70 to which a chain 1 is: connected. The chain 71 has connection with the counter shaft 43and isr operated thereby. lIt will be observed thatl` the chain 'T1 is trained about the-upper side of oneof the sprocket wheels 70 and about -the lower side of the other wheel T'Owhereby lV'hen the friction vwheel 65 is-4 icc 65 is in the vertical position illustrated in Figure 3 the-turntable will be more or less fixed, and-it is obvious that the turntable is rotated only when it is desired to adjust or' 5 change the position o'f the conveyor 62.

The position of the friction wheel'65 may `be varied by'shifting the carriage 80which operates the same. The carriage is slidably supported and has connection with a The 'link 81 has connection with a lever 82 by means of which kthe carriage 80 and consequently the wheel 65 may be shifted. A suitable locking device inthe nature of a dog` 84 and a segment 85 is provided for securing the lever in a set position.

The rear' .wheels v9()V are mounted on an axle 9 `the positie-nef which may be shifted by means of chains 92. The chains 92are employed for `steering the machine and are trained about the spools `92 mounted on a shaft 98. The shaft 93 is provided with a worm gear 94 and a worm gear 95 is-engaged .with the `gear94. Acsteeringwcolumn or iis Y lnal ring gear is not only engaged fby 'a driving pinion 61 lbut also by a plurality of -idler gears 105.

It'might be stated that the shaft 162 isrotatably'supported by a `combined corner bracey and'v bearing'106 which is secured to the sides ofthe frame and to one of the cross members of the same. The shaft and the idler gears 105 may also be carried by combined corner braces and bearings. v

In practisethe shovel is provided with a renewable blade 110 which may be'inadef adjustable so that the cutting depth of the /paratus to buckle. 'In this connection, -it

shovel may be varied.

In the operation of this machine the same is `connected to a suitable source of powerL -is'fespecially adapted for use 'in'landcharand the pulll thus exerted'on `the tongue is transmitted directly to the shovel for picking up the dirt. The dirt thus picked up is veyor 62 which may 'be adjusted to discharge the dirt laterally of the ditch. Y

p As previously Vstated the position of the digging conveyor may be readily varied by engaging. the friction wheel 65 with eitherone of the Vdriving wheels l68. When the discharge conveyor hasbeen positioned as` desired the lever 82 ist supported for break-v ing the driving connection between the turntable and the source of power 44.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is especially adapted for use in land characterized by the absence of stone and in arid lands o1 the West and South which are inadequately supplied with water. The machine starts to the surface on one end of the line and at the other end it will be reversed to run in the opposite direction for taking up more dirt.

In this manner the operation is continued until the ditch reaches the proper depth.

0f course, the machine will leave a Small portionof dirt at each end which may be readily dug out by laborers. v

Then a pull is exerted on the tongue, a direct pull will. be transmitted to the horizontally pivoted shovel so that the saine will be engaged with the earth for the purpose of loosening and picking up the same. As the tongue 10 continues to move forwardly the pin 14 will be engaged with the rear walls of the slots 15 so that the links 11 and consequently the frame will begin to travel. The connection between the tongue 10 and the links 11 is clearly illustrated in Figure 5. By reason of this construction the strain on the shovel is not transmitted through the frame and then to associated vthe v`tongue, but' is borne solely by` the tongue.- By thus establishinga direct conneet-ion between the vshovel andthel tongue the possibility of breaking of the various partsof the organization is reduced to a minimum. Y' l j 'In operation tsuitable means such as an jidler vmay be yprovided to take up `any slack which may occurin the 'chain `40 due to the various positions which the conveyor may assume. v

Figures 1 and2 illustrate that the conveyor is horizontally pivoted'intermediate its ends to the frame. In operation the bail orconnecting mem ber 18 will exert a pull on the shovel 16' slightly'in advanceof'the pivot point or attaching point of the" rod or link 33 so that vthere will vbenol tendency-of thelapisdesired .to point out that a machine con structed in .accordancek with this invention acterized by the'absen'ce of stonesr and which is more or less sandy so thatthe resistance y elevated by the ,endless conveyor 26 vand iS discharged on to the endless discharge conis very limited and in fact the cutting depth is regulated so'that there `willbe no more strain on the machine yithan it can stand. Furthermore, due to the weight of' the conveyor and the fact that the chain 19 and elements exert a. practically straight pull on the shovel, buckling is positivelyprevented. Y f

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is Y 1.V A ditch digging machine comprising a frame, a conveyor carried thereby, a shovel pivoted to the lower end of said conveyor, a tongue having a limited sliding connection with the frame, and means whereby to establish a direct driving connection between the-tonguel and the shovel.

2. A ditch digging machine comprising a frame, a conveyor carried thereby, a shovelpivoted to the lower end of said conveyor, a tongue having a limited sliding connection with the frame, means wherevby to` establish a direct driving connection between the tongue, and means whereby the shovel may be adjusted about a horizontal nection isy established between the shovel andthe' tongue, and means whereby lthe cutting depth of the shovel may be" regula'ted. j L l Y `5. A ditch digger comprising a fra-me, a tongue having limited sliding connection therewith, and a horizontally pivoted shovel having mea-ns whereby a'- direct driving connection is establishedbetween the shovel and the tongue, l

6. A ditch digging apparatus comprising a tra-me, an inclined conveyor carried thereby, a scraper horizontally hin-gedf to the lower end of said confyeyor, rod pi-voted tosaid. scraper,A a flexible element connected to said rod, a tongue slidably connected to said Jranie, and flexible means directly connecting said ton-gue directly `to said scraper.

7. A ditch diggin-g machine comprising a fra-me, a pair of forwardly directed links carried thereby, a tongue having a` limited sliding connection with said links, a blade arranged rearwardly' of said tongue, a Y'-shaped connecting member joining said tongue to said blade whereby they pull of the tongue is transmitted through the connecting member tol the blade, and. a conveyor member supporting said blade for movement about a horizontal axis.

8; A ditch digging machine comprising ay frame', a pair of forwardly directed links 'carried thereby, a tongue having a limited sliding connection with said links, a' blade `arranged rearwardly of said tongue, a

Y-shaped connecting member joining' said tongue to said blade whereby the pull of the tongue is transmitted through the connecting member tov the blade, a rod connected to said blade, a guiding devicel on said rod, a chain connected to said rod, and

meansA whereby to elevate said chain.

9,. A ditch digging machine comprising a frame, apair of forwardly directed links carried thereby, a tongue having a limited sliding connection with said links, aV blade. arranged rearwardly of said tongue, a t

Y-shape'd connecting member joining said tongue to said blade whereby` the. pull ofV necting member tothe blade, a rod conthe tongue is transmitted through the connected to said blade, a guiding device on said rod, a chain connected to said rod, and a ysecond conveyory to receive the material from the first named. conveyor.

- 10. A ditch digging, machine comprising ADOLPHS NAYLOR. 

